FIFA's Egomania Exposed: UEFA Walks Out on FIFA President Gianni Infantino at Congress
FIFA president Gianni Infantino's response following recent allegations and controversies.
Share on Social Media Email Print Copy Link
After grabbing a quick bite, many high-ranking seats on the dais remained vacant. However, the European football honchos didn't linger too long at the buffet spread. United by DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and the other UEFA Council members, they bid an early adieu to the FIFA Congress in Asunción. Their departure was calculated and held a clear intention. Here's the lowdown on the drama that unfolded in the Paraguayan capital:
Why did the UEFA delegates bolt from the FIFA Congress?
With their premature departure, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, DFB President Neuendorf, and their colleagues aimed to send a stern message: their tolerance for FIFA President Gianni Infantino's antics has reached its limit. Even his last-minute jaunt to the Middle East alongside US President Donald Trump had been a bone of contention. The Council meeting had been postponed, and Infantino missed numerous mandatory events leading up to the Congress.
Vanity was a constant subtext. Infantino, according to a Congress participant quoted by "The Times," had "lost his moral compass." Till the acute delay on the day of the Congress, Infantino's behavior had been endured with gritted teeth. The timing of the private jet was probably not within Infantino's direct control. Nevertheless, the risk of delay for a self-indulgent jaunt to the Gulf was laid at his door by the European honchos.
Many felt uneasy about the Swiss' spectacle in Trump's entourage. "A sudden schedule reshuffle that seems to serve only private political interests does not benefit football and appears to prioritize politics over the sport," UEFA stated.
What's the big deal about their departure?
In the end, the Europeans' absence was insignificant to the FIFA Congress proceedings. The dignitaries mostly serve as decoration on the podium, similar to politicians at a political convention. Infantino managed to power through the program as if nothing amiss had happened. But the symbolic impact is crucial. In essence, the functionaries subtly withdrew their trust in the FIFA chief. The message was loud and clear: "We're no longer playing your games. We've got our own agenda."
Neuendorf and his team left exactly when the session would have ended without Infantino's delay.
Sports US Adventure Gone Awry: FIFA President Makes Blundering Blunder in Philadelphia
The blowup falls into a period when the heated cold war between Infantino and the Europeans seemed to have subsided. Whether it's the mega-World Cup with 48 teams or the new Club World Cup with its debut this summer in the USA, all conflict zones seemed to have been addressed. But how brittle the truce can be became apparent in this symbolic way.
What role does DFB President Neuendorf play in all this?
For Neuendorf, the new conflict comes at an inopportune moment. Just when the DFB had managed to surmount the worst disputes with FIFA, the time of head-on confrontation during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is long behind us. They had reached compromises on several issues, partly due to Neuendorf's shrewd approach. The DFB President will likely maintain a low profile in the public processing of the Asunción affair. However, his solidarity with the Europeans around Čeferin is unwavering. It's crucial for German football.
Economy Infantino's Cryptocurrency Endeavor - Trump Chumming, World Cup Snubs: What's Next in the Battle of Football's Factions?
The future depends on Infantino's damage control. If the FIFA boss reacts with indignation or offense, it could escalate into long-lasting fights. His feel-good FIFA motto, "Unite the World through Football," has taken a serious hit. If Infantino still reacts with restraint and understanding, he might be able to downplay the incident. The Swiss is a power player. He'll evaluate what serves him best in the coming months. During the upcoming Club World Cup, Europe's top clubs like Bayern Munich will be ramping up their promotional machinery in the USA.
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft budget, as the sports-related activities of UEFA extend beyond just football, including discussions on the economic implications of the European-leagues and the premier-league. However, the focus of the UEFA delegates at the FIFA Congress was not on economics but on politics, as they aimed to express their disapproval of FIFA President Gianni Infantino's behavior and actions thatthey perceived as prioritizing politics over sports.
